Riley Gaines Bio, Age, Career, Net Worth, Personal Life And More

Riley Marie Gaines Barker rose to prominence as a standout NCAA swimmer at the University of Kentucky

After tying with trans swimmer Lia Thomas in 2022, she became a vocal advocate against the inclusion of transgender women in women’s sports.

Leveraging her athletic achievements and media platform, Gaines has evolved into an influential conservative activist, hosting podcasts, campaigning on Capitol Hill, and inspiring legislation like Georgia’s “Riley Gaines Act.”

Recently, she has sparred publicly with figures like Simone Biles and former President Trump—making her one of the most polarizing voices in the debate on gender and sports today.

Also Read: Who Is Riley Gaines Coach: Andreea Mitrofan? Bio, Family Background, Net Worth And More Explained

Riley Gaines’ Public Spats & National Spotlight

Simone Biles Feud (June 2025): Biles denounced Gaines as a “sore loser” after her remarks about a trans softball player; the exchange prompted major media attention and discussions on empathy vs. fairness.¹
ESPYS Moment (July 2025): At the 2025 ESPY Awards, Biles’s speech included veiled references to her exchange with Gaines—highlighting the ongoing public tensions.²
Partisan Disagreement with Trump: On July 16–17, 2025, Gaines criticized former President Trump on X (formerly Twitter), calling him “stupid and foolish” for backtracking on commitments related to releasing Jeffrey Epstein files.³

Endorsement of Fellow Advocates

Publicly backed ESPN’s Sam Ponder for speaking out in defense of women’s sports.
Silver medalist MyKayla Skinner also voiced support for Gaines’s advocacy.⁴

Riley Gaines’ Early Life

Riley Marie Gaines, also known as Riley Gaines Barker, is an American former competitive swimmer and current advocate for women’s sports.⁵

Born on April 21, 2000, in Gallatin, Tennessee, Gaines has become a notable figure for her achievements in competitive swimming and her outspoken views on trans women competing in women’s sports.

Riley Gaines grew up in Gallatin, Tennessee, and showed an interest in swimming from a young age. As a high school student, she excelled in the sport, leading to her recruitment to the University of Kentucky’s NCAA swim team.
Gaines’s time at the university was marked by both athletic and academic achievements.
During her tenure at the University of Kentucky, Gaines became one of the top swimmers in the Southeastern Conference (SEC).
She competed in a variety of events, including freestyle and butterfly, and consistently earned high placements. In 2022, her efforts and dedication were recognized when she was awarded the Southeastern Conference Women’s Swimming and Diving Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
This award highlighted her excellence in both her studies and her swimming career.

Advocacy and Public Presence

After her competitive swimming career, Riley Gaines became a prominent voice in the conversation surrounding trans women competing in women’s sports. Her perspective is rooted in her experiences as a swimmer, where she competed against both cisgender and transgender athletes.

Gaines has publicly expressed concerns about the fairness of allowing trans women to compete in women’s sports, arguing that the physiological differences create an uneven playing field.

Podcast Host and Media Appearances

Since 2023, Riley Gaines has expanded her reach as a podcast host. She began hosting the weekly podcast “Gaines for Girls,” a show under the umbrella of OutKick and Fox Nation.

The podcast provides a platform for her to discuss a variety of topics related to sports, women in athletics, and the broader cultural debates surrounding these issues.

Through her podcast, Gaines engages with a wide range of guests and audience members, offering insights into her experiences and the challenges faced by women in competitive sports.

Riley’s Emergence in Activism

The Lia Thomas Incident

Gaines tied for fifth in the event where Thomas, a trans woman, competed under NCAA rules.
Reported discomfort sharing locker rooms with Thomas, which sparked her activism.

Advocacy and Influence

Testified before Congress and state legislatures; worked with Turning Point USA and Independent Women’s Forum.
Hosted Gaines for Girls podcast on OutKick and Fox Nation since July 2023.
Supported several conservative figures—including Rand Paul, Ron DeSantis, Donald Trump—and appeared in political ads.

Policy Impact: The “Riley Gaines Act”

Georgia’s SB 1 (“Riley Gaines Act of 2025”) bans transgender women from female sports and mandates sex-specific facility usage, signed into law April 28, 2025.
Gaines has called on the NCAA to retroactively strip trans swimmer Lia Thomas of her titles following UPenn’s record rescindings.⁶

Also Read: Who Is Riley Gaines? Promising Swimmer Net Worth 2024, Endorsement Deals, New Hairstyle And More

Riley Gaines’s College Athletic Achievements

Riley Gaines’s collegiate swimming career at the University of Kentucky showcased her exceptional skills and dedication to the sport.

Here’s an overview of her accomplishments during her college years and her role in NCAA swimming competitions.

Early Achievements

Gaines joined the University of Kentucky’s swim team in 2018 and quickly made a name for herself. In her freshman year in 2019, she made the All-SEC Freshman Team, indicating a promising start to her collegiate swimming career.

Her performance that year also earned her a spot on the All-SEC Second Team, reflecting her consistency and competitive spirit.

This is fantastic news. I imagine the democrats will be eating their words. pic.twitter.com/aRE9lCLEQA

— Riley Gaines (@Riley_Gaines_) July 18, 2025

Success at the SEC Championships

As she progressed in her college career, Gaines continued to excel in the Southeastern Conference (SEC). In 2020, she once again made the All-SEC Second Team, proving that her freshman success was not just a one-time occurrence.

These early achievements laid the groundwork for her future performances in higher-level competitions.

NCAA Women’s Swimming & Diving Championships

Riley Gaines’s skills were put to the test in the 2021 NCAA Women’s Swimming & Diving Championships, where she competed against some of the best collegiate swimmers in the country. Her performances at the championship event were impressive:

In the 4 × 200-yard freestyle relay, Gaines’s team secured a second-place finish, demonstrating her strong team-oriented approach. In the 200-yard freestyle race, she earned a seventh-place finish, highlighting her individual capabilities at a national level.

The 2022 NCAA Championships and Tying with Lia Thomas

In 2022, Riley Gaines competed in the NCAA Women’s Swimming & Diving Championships, where she participated in multiple events.
One of the most notable moments of her college career came during the 200-yard NCAA freestyle championship, where she tied for fifth place with Lia Thomas, a University of Pennsylvania swimmer.
Thomas had gained significant attention for being the first openly trans woman champion in the NCAA women’s division after winning the 500-yard freestyle.
This tie at the 2022 championship brought Gaines into a broader national conversation about trans women competing in women’s sports, leading to her emergence as an advocate for fairness and competition in women’s athletics.

Riley Gaines Net Worth in 2025

Riley Gaines, a former competitive swimmer and outspoken advocate for women’s sports, has achieved a significant level of financial success at the age of 24. As of 2025, her net worth is estimated to be between $1.5 – $2 million.

This considerable wealth is a result of her achievements in swimming, her advocacy work, and endorsement deals.

Athletic Career

While competing for the University of Kentucky NCAA swim team, Gaines established herself as one of the top swimmers, earning accolades like the Southeastern Conference Women’s Swimming and Diving Scholar-Athlete of the Year in 2022.

Her success in collegiate swimming laid a strong foundation for her post-swimming career, where she transitioned into an influential public figure.

Endorsement Deals

A significant portion of Riley Gaines’s net worth comes from lucrative endorsement deals. Notably, she has inked partnerships with major brands such as Nike, Coca-Cola, and Visa.

These deals reflect her marketability and influence, as companies see her as a strong role model for younger athletes and advocates for women’s sports.

Brand Alignment

In a notable move, Gaines turned down a $5 million deal with Bud Light, preferring to align herself with a brand that aligns with her values.

Instead, she signed a $10 million deal with a “non-woke” beer company, showcasing her ability to choose endorsement opportunities that resonate with her beliefs and public image.

Advocacy and Public Speaking

Riley Gaines has become a prominent voice in the debate surrounding the participation of transgender women in women’s sports. Her outspoken stance has garnered attention from various circles, including political campaigns.
In 2024, she was paid $11,700 by the DeSantis campaign for her role in advocacy and public speaking. Her engagements in these activities have not only contributed to her net worth but have also increased her visibility on a national scale.
Beyond endorsements and advocacy, Gaines hosts a weekly OutKick and Fox Nation podcast titled “Gaines for Girls.“
This platform provides her with a steady stream of income while also allowing her to expand her reach and influence. It also demonstrates her ability to transition from competitive athletics to media and content creation successfully.

Riley Gaines’s Political Activism

Riley Gaines, a former competitive swimmer for the University of Kentucky, has gained prominence not only for her athletic achievements but also for her political activism.

In recent years, Gaines has taken a firm stance against the inclusion of transgender women in women’s sports, arguing that it creates an unfair competitive advantage.

Her activism has led her to lobby state representatives, support political campaigns, and speak at high-profile events, establishing her as a leading voice in the debate over transgender participation in women’s athletics.

Lobbying for Legislative Change

Gaines’s activism began to gain traction in April 2022 when she lobbied her state representatives to pass a law prohibiting transgender women from competing in women’s sports.

Her efforts were motivated by her personal experiences at the 2022 NCAA Women’s Swimming & Diving Championships, where she tied for fifth place with Lia Thomas, a transgender athlete.

This event sparked significant controversy and led Gaines to advocate for policies that, in her view, protect the integrity of women’s sports.

Support for Political Campaigns

In September 2022, Gaines’s activism extended to the political arena when she appeared in a television advertisement for U.S. Senator Rand Paul.

In the ad, she voiced her criticism of transgender women in women’s sports and endorsed Paul’s re-election campaign.

Her appearance in the ad was part of a broader effort to influence public opinion and legislative action on this contentious issue.

Criticism and Support

Gaines’s activism has attracted both support and criticism. Those who support her stance argue that allowing transgender women to compete in women’s sports undermines the competitive balance and disadvantages cisgender female athletes.

They view Gaines as a courageous advocate who is willing to speak out on a sensitive issue, even in the face of backlash.

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FAQ’s About Riley Gaines

Q: Who is Riley Gaines?
A: Riley Gaines is a former NCAA swimmer turned conservative activist, known for her leadership in the fight against transgender inclusion in women’s sports.

Q: What is the Riley Gaines Act?
A: A Georgia state law (SB 1) passed in 2025 that restricts transgender athletes from competing in women-designated sports and facilities, named in Gaines’s honor.

Q: What caused the feud with Simone Biles?
A: The dispute began when Gaines criticized a trans softball player; Biles called her a “sore loser.” The conflict sparked national conversation and media coverage.⁷

Q: What are her recent controversies?
A: Aside from clashing with Biles, Gaines challenged Trump on Epstein document transparency, supported ESPN’s Sam Ponder, and continues advocating through lawsuits against the NCAA .

Riley Gaines: NCAA Swimmer to Conservative Activist Leading Athletic Policy